Light-Based Heat in an Object

ABSTRACT

An object has at least a first source of light secured thereto. At least a first light-bearing conduit operably couples to this source of light and also to at least a first heat-dispersion component that is also secured to the object. So configured, the heat-dispersion component responds to reception of light from at least the first source of light via at least the first light-bearing conduit by dispersing heat derived from the light.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/149,493, filed Oct. 2, 2018, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/566,982, filed Oct. 2, 2017, which areincorporated by reference in their entirety.

This application is related to co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/133,363, entitled Light-Based Terrestrial Vehicle Network and filedSep. 17, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,899,230, issued Jan. 26, 2021, whichis incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

These teachings relate generally to the conveyance of heat withinman-made objects.

BACKGROUND

Supplemental heating finds numerous uses in modern man-made objects(including but not limited to aerospace vehicles, terrestrial andaquatic vehicles, non-vehicular human shelters, and man-wearableobjects, to note but a few relevant examples). Such heating can serve toprovide comfort to a living being or to provide a suitable operatingenvironment or state to a given component or part of the man-madeobject.

Such heat is sometimes harvested from some component in the object thatproduces excess heat while operating in service of some primary functionthat does not involve creating heat. This source of heat may not bewholly sufficient in and of itself for all supplemental heatingrequirements and/or it may be difficult, impractical, or impossible todirect that heat to a desired location in the object.

In other cases such heat may be sourced by a dedicated heating element.Such an approach usually requires electricity to operate. While usefulin some application settings, such an approach may fail to be whollysatisfactory in any of a variety of application settings. Furthermore,in some specialized application settings standard electrical conductorwiring practices can give rise to considerable electromagneticinterference (EMI). That EMI may be disruptive to other external systemsand/or may make it easier for unauthorized entities to detect thepresence and/or movement of the object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above needs are at least partially met through provision of thelight-based heat in an object concept described in the followingdetailed description, particularly when studied in conjunction with thedrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 comprises a block diagram as configured in accordance withvarious embodiments of these teachings;

FIG. 2 comprises a perspective view as configured in accordance withvarious embodiments of these teachings;

FIG. 3 comprises a block diagram as configured in accordance withvarious embodiments of these teachings;

FIG. 4 comprises a block diagram as configured in accordance withvarious embodiments of these teachings;

FIG. 5 comprises a block diagram as configured in accordance withvarious embodiments of these teachings;

FIG. 6 comprises a block diagram as configured in accordance withvarious embodiments of these teachings;

FIG. 7 comprises a perspective view as configured in accordance withvarious embodiments of these teachings;

FIG. 8 comprises a block diagram as configured in accordance withvarious embodiments of these teachings; and

FIG. 9 comprises a block diagram as configured in accordance withvarious embodiments of these teachings.

Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity andhave not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensionsand/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures maybe exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improveunderstanding of various embodiments of the present teachings. Also,common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in acommercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order tofacilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of thepresent teachings. Certain actions and/or steps may be described ordepicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in theart will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence isnot actually required. The terms and expressions used herein have theordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressionsby persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above exceptwhere different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.The word “or” when used herein shall be interpreted as having adisjunctive construction rather than a conjunctive construction unlessotherwise specifically indicated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally speaking, pursuant to these various embodiments an object hasat least a first source of light secured thereto. At least a firstlight-bearing conduit operably couples to this source of light and alsoto at least a first heat-dispersion component that is also secured tothe object. So configured, the heat-dispersion component responds toreception of light from at least the first source of light via at leastthe first light-bearing conduit by dispersing heat derived from thelight.

These teachings will accommodate a variety of man-made objectsincluding, but not limited to, aerospace vehicles, terrestrial vehicles,aquatic vehicles, non-vehicular human shelters, and man-wearableobjects. By one approach the source of light comprises anelectrically-powered source of light and the light-bearing conduitcomprises at least one optical fiber.

By one approach the heat-dispersion component includes athermally-conductive element having a layer of light-absorptive (mostcommonly infrared-absorptive) material at least partially disposedthereon. So configured, the infrared-absorptive material generates heatwhen exposed to at least a part of the light emanating from the firstlight-bearing conduit. The heat-dispersion component can also include aconnector to receive and hold the light-bearing conduit such that atleast a part of the light that emanates from the light-bearing conduitilluminates at least a part of the infrared-absorptive material andcorresponding heat is available via the thermally-conductive element. Ifdesired, the first heat-dispersion component can further include atleast one fan configured to disperse the heat from thethermally-conductive element to thereby heat a space corresponding tothe object.

By another approach, in lieu of the foregoing or in combinationtherewith, a heat-dispersion component can include alight-to-electricity conversion component having a light-receiving inputoperably coupled via a light-bearing conduit to a source of light thatis secured to the object. An electricity-providing output of thiscomponent can then operably couple to an electricity-to-heat conversioncomponent. So configured, the latter can provide heat to thereby againheat a space corresponding to the object.

By one approach a temperature sensor can be configured to communicatesensed temperature information to a control circuit that serves tocontrol the dispersal of heat by the aforementioned heat-dispersioncomponent. By one approach, for example, the control circuit canselectively occlude the light path to the heat-dispersion component. Byanother approach, the control circuit can modulate the output of thesource of light to selectively reduce or increase the strength of thelight. By one approach communications between these components includesthe transmission and reception of modulated light.

So configured, heat can be provided to general and/or very targeted andspecific spaces and locations within a given object. These teachings arehighly flexible in practice and will accommodate a wide variety ofapplication settings. In many cases these benefits are achieved in a waythat is less expensive and/or that requires less weight thancorresponding prior art practices. For many application settings, heatprovided via these teachings occurs more efficiently as compared to moretypical electricity-based methodologies. Safety during operation is alsotypically increased while a corresponding EMI signature is reduced.

Referring now to FIG. 1, this figure presents an apparatus 100 thatincludes an object 101. These teachings are highly flexible in thisregard and will accommodate a wide variety of objects. By one approach,the object 101 comprises an aerospace vehicle such as a manned orunmanned spacecraft, fixed wing aircraft, helicopter, and so forth. Byanother approach the object 101 comprises an aquatic vehicle configuredto travel on the surface of or within a body of water.

As another example, the object 101 comprises a terrestrial vehicle.Terrestrial vehicles of various kinds are known in the art. As usedherein, “terrestrial vehicle” refers to a vehicle that is physicallyconfigured to move from one place to another while in physical contactwith the ground. As used herein, a vehicle is not a terrestrial vehiclemerely because the vehicle can move while in contact with the groundwhen that capability constitutes only a secondary means of locomotion ascompared to some primary non-terrestrial means of moving. Accordingly,an airplane is not a terrestrial vehicle notwithstanding an ability ofthe airplane to move while in contact with the ground. A non-completelisting of terrestrial vehicles would include automobiles, trucks,motorhomes, vans, fire engines, various earthmovers, motorcycles,tracked vehicles such as tanks, and railroad engines and cars.

As yet another example the object 101 can comprise a non-vehicular humanshelter. Examples in these regards include both permanent/stationaryshelters (such as residential, business, commercial, and industrialbuildings) as well as mobile/portable shelters (including but notlimited to tents and the like).

And as yet another example the object 101 can comprise a man-wearableobject. Examples in these regards include but are not limited to outerfootwear (such as shoes and boots), pants and skirts, shirts andblouses, dresses, coats and jackets of various kinds, gloves, socks andother undergarments, vests, scarves and other neckwear, headwearincluding hats and helmets, backpacks and other wearable containers, aswell as various wearable accessories including eyeglasses, wristwatchesand other bracelets, necklaces, and so forth.

These teachings will further accommodate objects 101 comprised of a widevariety of materials, including natural as well as man-made syntheticmaterials, rigid materials as well as flexible materials, and so forth.

The apparatus 100 also includes at least a first source of light 102. Inthis example the source of light 102 is secured to the object 101. Byone approach, the first source of light 102 comprises anelectrically-powered source of light such as a laser diode. When soconfigured, the apparatus 100 can further include at least oneself-contained source of electricity 103 that may also be secured to theobject 101. This self-contained source of electricity 103 operablycouples to the one or more sources of light 102 to thereby provideelectricity to the one or more sources of light 102. Examples of aself-contained source of electricity include but are not limited tobatteries of various kinds, capacitors (including so-called supercapacitors), as well as generators of various kinds. By one approach theself-contained source of electricity 103 is included with the object 101to provide electric power to components other than the first source oflight(s) 102).

The first source of light 102 may itself include a single, solitarylight source or a plurality of discrete, independent light sources asdesired. When multiple light sources are utilized they may be identicalto one another or may differ from one another as regards any of power,intensity, light frequency, and so forth. When multiple light sourcesare utilized their output light may be combined into a single outputthat constitutes the output of the first source of light 102.

The light output by the first source of light 102 may be visible light,non-visible light (such as infrared light) only, or light having bothvisible and non-visible spectrum. As described in more detail below,visible light may serve a surface-illumination purpose and/or may serveas a visible marker to warn of an active light source (when, forexample, the visible light component is conveyed in combination with alight component that conveys power as described herein). Infrared light,by way of contrast, can serve to transmit heat to a distal location.

The output(s) of the source of light(s) 102 operably couple to at leasta first light-bearing conduit 104. So configured this light-bearingconduit 104 conveys light from the first source of light 102 to otherlocations and components corresponding to the object 101. In a typicalapplication setting there will likely be a plurality of suchlight-bearing conduits 104 that attach respectively to one or more ofthe aforementioned sources of light 102.

By one approach at least some of the light-bearing conduits 104 compriseoptical fiber comprised of, for example, a polymer-based plastic opticalfiber or a plastic optical fiber having at least some polymer content.

The diameter/cross-section of a given light-bearing conduit 104 can varyto suit the needs of a particular application. For example, alight-bearing conduit 104 that serves to convey a larger amount of power(such as 15 watts or more) may have a larger diameter than alight-bearing conduit 104 that serves to convey a smaller amount ofpower (such as only 1 or 2 watts of power). Appropriate selections inthese regards can be based, for example, upon the anticipated powerrequirements of the corresponding components that are to be powered.Illustrative examples in these regards include but are not limited tolight-bearing conduits 104 having a diameter of 1.0 mm, 3.0 mm, 5.0 mm,7.0 mm, or 15.0 mm. It is also possible to use a greater number ofsmaller-diameter conduits as versus a fewer number of larger-diameterconduits, or vice versa, to serve a similar aggregate purpose. Forexample, at least 16 watts of power can be conveyed by eight 1.0 mmconduits (presuming 2 watts per conduit), or by sixteen 1.0 mm conduits(presuming 1 watt per conduit), or three 3.0 mm conduits (presuming 6watts per conduit).

If desired, at least some of the light-bearing conduits 104 can beprovided, for at least a portion of their respective length, withsupplemental, conformal, thermally-insulative cladding. Such claddingcan serve to protect the operational and physical integrity of theconduit 104 in environmentally-challenging and/oroperationally-challenging locations where extreme cold or heat may beanticipated. A cladding that is not especially thermally protective maybe useful for light-bearing conduits 104 intended to bearpower-conveying light.

In this illustrative example one or more of the light-bearing conduits104 for operably couple to a light-receiving input of at least a firstheat-dispersion component 105. In this example the heat-dispersioncomponent 105 is also secured to the object 101. Generally speaking, theheat-dispersion component 105 is configured to respond to the receptionof light from at least the first source of light 102 via at least thefirst light-bearing conduit 104 by dispersing heat derived from thelight. In this example the light received by the heat-dispersioncomponent 105 comprises, at least in part, infrared light.

These teachings will accommodate a variety of different heat-dispersioncomponents. In a given object 101 there may be a plurality ofheat-dispersion components 105 that are all essentially identical to oneanother or that at least operate in a similar manner to one another orthere may be different kinds of heat-dispersion components 105.

FIG. 2 provides a first illustrative example in these regards. In thisexample the heat-dispersion component 105 includes at least a firstthermally-conductive element 201. This thermally-conductive element 201can have essentially any form factor of choice and is shown here as asmall slab of aluminum. This thermally-conductive element 201 has alayer of infrared-absorptive material 202 at least partially disposed ona surface thereof. In this example the layer of infrared-absorptivematerial 202 as a rectangular shape but the shape can vary as desiredand/or with respect to the needs and/or opportunities represented by agiven application setting. Darker-colored materials may suffice, thoughthe applicant has determined that copper-colored dyes (such as thoseused in film development) can be especially useful in these regards.

So configured, the infrared-absorptive material will generate heat whenexposed to light 203, and especially infrared light, that may emanatefrom the above-described light-bearing conduit 104. To aid in thoseregards, the heat-dispersion component 105 in this example furtherincludes a connector 204 that is configured to receive and hold thelight-bearing conduit 104 at or near the tip 205 thereof such that atleast a part of the light 203 emanating from the light-bearing conduit104 illuminates at least a part of the layer of infrared-absorptivematerial 202.

In this example the connector 204 includes a metallic ring 206 thatfrictionally restrains movement of the light-bearing conduit 104. Thering 206 in turn connects to a stem 207 that is secured to some otherstationary surface of choice. These teachings will accommodate any of awide variety of ways of connecting to and holding the light-bearingconduit 104 in a desired position and orientation.

By another approach, an optical prism/taper attached to the tip 205 ofthe light-bearing conduit 104 can serve to output light from thelight-bearing conduit 104 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of thelight-bearing conduit 104. Using this approach, the light-bearingconduit 104 can be disposed parallel (and very close) to thethermally-conductive element 201. Such an approach can offer spacesavings that are helpful in some application settings.

If desired, and as shown in FIG. 2, the heat-dispersion component 105can further include at least one fan 208 configured to disperse the heatfrom the first thermally-conductive element 201 to thereby, for example,heat a space 209 that corresponds to the object 101.

FIG. 3 presents another approach for configuring a heat-dispersioncomponent 105. In this example the light source 102 optically couplesvia at least one light-bearing conduit 104 to the light receiving inputof at least one light-to-electricity conversion component 301. Thelight-to-electricity conversion component 301 is configured to convertat least some of the light received at the light-receiving input intoelectricity and to provide that electricity to at least oneelectricity-providing output. A variety of photonically-sensitivematerials are known in the art that will serve in these regards, withgallium arsenide being one particularly useful example. For example,wafers of gallium arsenide ranging in diameter size from 1.0 to 7.0 mmcan output from 1.0 to 3.3 volts at 7.0 to 20.0 watts with conversionefficiency generally ranging from twenty to eighty percent.

Additional components can be utilized as desired to smooth, regulate,and otherwise shape and control the resultant electricity. Generallyspeaking, the electricity provided by the light-to-electricityconversion component 301 constitutes direct current (DC) electricity. Ifdesired, an inverter can serve to convert the DC electricity intoalternative current (AC) electricity.

By one optional approach the electricity-providing output of thelight-to-electricity conversion component 301 can operably couple to aself-contained electricity storage component 302 such as, for example, abattery or a capacitor. In any event, the electricity-providing outputof the light-to-electricity conversion component 301 operably couples toan electricity-to-heat conversion component is configured to receiveelectricity and to provide heat to thereby provide heat a spacecorresponding to the object 101. If desired, a fan as described abovecan be utilized in conjunction with this heat-dispersion component 105to facilitate directing the heat to the desired space.

As suggested above, a given apparatus 100 may utilize only one type ofheat-dispersion component 105 with a given object 101 or may utilize twoor more different types of heat-dispersion components 105 as desired. Byone approach, two different types of heat-dispersion components 105 maybe employed in conjunction with a shared space to heat in order toprovide redundant capabilities in those regards.

By one approach such a light-based system can serve a wide variety ofend purposes. FIG. 4 provides an illustrative example in these regards.

In this example one or more sources of light 102 provide any of avariety of different kinds of light 401. Examples include heat-conveyinglight (such as infrared light), data-bearing light, power-conveyinglight, and visible light. As described above, heat-conveying light 402can facilitate the operating of a heat-dispersion component 105 asdescribed above with respect to FIG. 2.

As another example, data-bearing light 403 can convey data to and/orfrom one or more data-capable components 406. The modulation of light inorder to convey data comprises a well understood area of prior artpractice. By one approach these teachings will accommodate one or morelight-based data buses that convey only data-modulated light or thatshare data-modulated light with light intended for other purposes asdesired.

Generally speaking the data handling protocol can comprise, if desired,a simple data handling protocol. Any of a wide variety of modulationtechniques as are presently known (or that will likely be developedhereafter) can be employed in this regard as these teachings are notoverly sensitive to specific selections amongst such options. By oneapproach, the data handling protocol can essentially comprise a directone-for-one representation of the information to be conveyed with littleor no error correction. (As used herein, those skilled in the art willunderstand and recognize that “error correction” serves as a referenceto protocol-based error mitigation, error detection, and errorcorrection, which concepts are well understood in the art and require nofurther elaboration here.)

These teachings will accommodate a wide variety of data-capablecomponents 406. Generally speaking, a data-based component 406 willtypically source, relay, process, receive, store, and/or useinformation. Examples include, but are certainly not limited to, theabove-described heat-dispersion components 105, sensors of various kindsincluding temperature sensors, location-sensing equipment and globalposition system (GPS) receivers, wireless transmitters, radar and/orlidar, fuel level sensors, engine operational parameters, informationaldisplays, environmental control sensors and actuators, and so forth.

As yet another example, power-conveying light 404 can be provided to alight-to-electricity conversion component 301 as described above tothereby electrically power one or more electricity-based components suchas, but not limited to, the above-described electricity-to-heatconversion component 303.

And as yet another example, visible light 405 can be provided to any ofa variety of illumination components 407. Illumination components 407are components that are configured to provide surface illumination usingvisible light 405 as sourced by at least one source of light 102 asdescribed above. This can include illumination components that areconfigured to provide interior surface illumination for the object 101as well as illumination components that are configured to provideexterior surface illumination for the object 101. (Headlights are oneuseful example of an illumination component that provides exteriorsurface illumination. In that case, and as an illustrative example inthese regards, a bundle of thirty 1.0 mm optical fibers can provide thelighting performance equivalent of a modern headlight, including bothhigh beam as well as low beam settings.)

Those skilled in the art will understand that the foregoing descriptioncan be taken at face value as a physical configuration. It will also beunderstood, however, that the foregoing description can also be taken asa schematic representation and/or as a logical representation. In fact,these teachings will accommodate a variety of network architecturesincluding star-shaped configurations, ring networks, and so forth.

It will also be understood that these teachings will accommodate avariety of other components, including components that together form afeedback-based control system. For example, one or more temperaturesensors, in combination with one or more control circuits, can serve tocontrol the amount of heat provided to a particular object space 209.FIG. 5 presents one illustrative example in these regards. It will beunderstood that the specific details of this example are intended toserve an illustrative purpose and are not to be taken as suggesting anyparticular limitations in these regards.

In this example a first light source 501 provides at least infraredlight via a corresponding light-bearing conduit 104 to a heat-dispersioncomponent 105 as described above. In this example, however, thelight-bearing conduit 104 includes a gate 502 that can selectivelyocclude the conduit 104 to thereby control whether the light reaches theheat-dispersion component 105.

In this example a first light-to-electricity conversion component 503provides electrical power to the aforementioned gate 502. Light to powerthis first light-to-electricity conversion component 503 is sourced by asecond light source 504. This same second light source 504 also powers asecond light-to-electricity conversion component 505 which, in turn,provides electrical power to at least one temperature sensor 506described below. The corresponding light-bearing conduit 104 includes alight splitter 507 to facilitate providing sufficient light power toboth the first and the second light-to-electricity conversion components503 and 505. Light splitters are known in the art and require no furtherelaboration here.

In this example, a third light-to-electricity conversion component 508provides operating electricity to a control circuit 509. Being a“circuit,” the control circuit 509 therefore comprises structure thatincludes at least one (and typically many) electrically-conductive paths(such as paths comprised of a conductive metal such as copper or silver)that convey electricity in an ordered manner, which path(s) will alsotypically include corresponding electrical components (both passive(such as resistors and capacitors) and active (such as any of a varietyof semiconductor-based devices) as appropriate) to permit the circuit toeffect the control aspect of these teachings.

Such a control circuit 509 can comprise a fixed-purpose hard-wiredhardware platform (including but not limited to an application-specificintegrated circuit (ASIC) (which is an integrated circuit that iscustomized by design for a particular use, rather than intended forgeneral-purpose use), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and thelike) or can comprise a partially or wholly-programmable hardwareplatform (including but not limited to microcontrollers,microprocessors, and the like). These architectural options for suchstructures are well known and understood in the art and require nofurther description here. This control circuit 509 may be configured(for example, by using corresponding programming as will be wellunderstood by those skilled in the art) to carry out one or more of thesteps, actions, and/or functions described herein.

In this example the control circuit 509 also operably couples to a firstdata bus interface 510. This data bus interface 510 comprises, in thisexample, an optical data bus interface and, more particularly, a polymeroptical data bus interface that is suitable for use in conjunction withpolymer optical fiber-based data busses. If desired, this data businterface can comprise a full-duplex optical data bus interface. By oneapproach, the data bus itself will comprise a ring-configured data bus.In such a case, this first data bus interface 510 can comprise a ringinterface. If desired, this first data bus interface can be configuredand arranged to transmit substantially similar data (including identicaldata) in opposing directions of such a ring-configured data bussubstantially simultaneously. If desired, the data-bearing light canshare a same light-bearing conduit (or conduits) 104 as theabove-described heat-conveying light, power-conveying light, and/orvisible light.

So configured the control circuit 509 can communicate with otherelements via the first data bus interface 510. In particular, in thisexample the control circuit 509 can provide open and close instructionsto the aforementioned gate 502 via a second data bus interface 511 andcan receive temperature information from the aforementioned temperaturesensor(s) 506 via a third data bus interface 512

The temperature sensor 506 can comprise any of a variety of temperaturesensors that are known in the art. As the present teachings are notoverly sensitive to any particular selections in these regards, furtherelaboration regarding various temperature sensors is not presented herefor the sake of brevity. In a typical application setting, the one ormore temperature sensors 506 will typically be located in a favorableposition to sense the temperature at or within a space of interest inthe object 101.

So configured, the control circuit 509 can control the dispersal of heatby the heat-dispersion component 105 as a function, at least in part, ofthe at least one temperature sensor 506. In particular, the controlcircuit 509 can switch the aforementioned gate 502 to be open when anincrease in temperature is desired. Conversely, the control circuit 509can switch the aforementioned gate 502 to be closed when a decrease intemperature is acceptable.

In lieu of the foregoing use of a gate 502, or in combination therewith,the control circuit 509 can instead be communicatively coupled (via, forexample, the above-described data buss(es)) to the source of light 501that services the heat-dispersion component 105. So coupled, the controlcircuit 509 can control the light output of the source 501 to therebycontrol the amount of heat provided by the heat-dispersion component105. For example, the amplitude/intensity of the output light could becontrolled/modulated to achieve this result. This approach may befavored in some application settings as a most efficient and economicaluse of available electric power.

It should again be recalled that the specific details of these examplesserve an illustrative purpose and are not intended to suggest specificlimitations to these teachings. For example, as illustrated, the controlcircuit 509 and the temperature sensor 506 are presented as beingphysically separate from one another. These teachings will readilyaccommodate, however, co-locating these elements into a single sharedcomponent, such that the temperature sensor 506 can act upon its ownsensed temperatures (with or without also taking into account othertemperature data as sensed and provided by other temperature sensors) asa self-contained thermostat to control the heat-dispersion component 105as described above.

As yet another example in these regards, the temperature sensor 506 canbe provided with its own control capabilities while also working inconjunction with a separate control circuit 509 as described above. Inthis case the thermostatic capabilities of the temperature sensor 506can be used, for example, as a safety-backup to prevent inappropriateoverheating while the control circuit 509 can operate to maintain thetemperature-based comfort of the user.

If desired, a manual kill switch (not shown) can be provided to disablethe provision of heat by the heat-dispersion component 105. Such a killswitch can serve to switch off the supply of electric power to thecorresponding source of light 501.

By one approach, if desired, the source of light 102 can also serve toprovide and combine a safety-pilot wavelength component with any powerwavelength component and/or heat-conveying wavelength component. Soconfigured, and particularly when the power and/or heat-conveyingwavelength component comprises a substantially or fully non-visiblewavelength (such as an infrared wavelength) as described above, thissafety-pilot wavelength component (which can comprise a visible light ofchoice) can serve to warn onlookers to avoid looking into the lightoutput while also serving to invoke a reflexive closure of the pupil inorder to afford some degree of natural eye protection as well.

In lieu of the foregoing, or in combination therewith, that safety-pilotwavelength component can provide the basis for a continuous (or nearlycontinuous) test on the optical conduit to determine the presence orabsence of that safety-pilot wavelength component. Such a test maycomprise, for example, measuring the propagation delay that correspondsto reflections that occur at the receiving end of the optical conduit.Such a test can help to identify when a break or leak in the opticalconduit occurs. Upon detecting such a breach in the operationalintegrity of the optical conduit the supply of light can beautomatically switched off (or possibly diverted to a back-up opticalconduit).

It may also be again noted that the power-conveying light can be carriedby a same light-bearing conduit 104 (or conduits) that also carries anydata-bearing light, heat-conveying light, and/or visible light asdesired.

FIG. 6 presents an illustrative example where the object 101 comprisesan aircraft wing 601. In this example a plurality of heat-dispersioncomponents 105 are mounted along the leading edge 602 of the wing 601.Temperature sensors 506 are interspersed amongst the heat-dispersioncomponents 105. These elements 105 and 506 are connected as describedabove. So configured, the heat-dispersion components 105 can beselectively energized to effect a de-icing function.

FIG. 7 presents another example where the object 101 comprises aman-wearable item; in particular, a boot 701. In this example threeheat-dispersion components 105 are disposed within or on the sole of theboot 701. Temperature sensors may also be included if desired. In thisexample the boot 701 includes a connection block 702. This connectionblock serves to physically and optically couple to one or morelight-bearing conduits to the heat-dispersion components 105 (andtemperature sensors if included). Using this approach the lightsource(s) 102 (and other related elements such as the above-describedcontrols 509) can be mounted elsewhere on the person who wears the boot701.

Man-wearable items can of course comprise articles other than footwearas described above. The heating systems provided in each wearable itemcan be independent or can be coupled into an overall network thatoperably couples multiple wearable items. Using this approach, one ormore light sources could be contained within a backpack and with lightfrom those light sources being carried by corresponding light-bearingconduits to various other wearable items.

These teachings are highly flexible in these regards and will facilitatevarious purposes. As one example in these regards, an item of clothing,such as a coat, can have a warming compartment where food items areplaced to be warmed by one or more heat-dispersion components prior toconsumption.

FIG. 8 presents another illustrative example that draws upon variousteachings set forth herein and that presents further details by way ofillustration and without intending to suggest any particularlimitations.

In this example the source of light 102 includes a diode-based laserdriver 801 that connects to an electricity source 103. An electric poweroutput of the laser driver 801 connects to an infrared laser diode 802.An optical conduit directs the resultant photonic energy to an opticalport 803 that comprises the output of the source of light 102. In thisexample an additional optical conduit 804 provides temperature datafeedback as received at the optical port 803 to the laser driver 801. Inthis example, the laser driver 801 is configured to respond to thattemperature data feedback by controlling the provision of electricity tothe laser diode 802.

One or more light-bearing conduits 104 couple to the aforementionedoptical port 803. These conduits include an optical conduit 805 thatcarries light-based energy to a heating section 806 and also an opticalconduit 807 that carries temperature data from a temperature sensor 506that comprises a part of the heating section 806. The energy-bearingconduit 805 couples to an optical coupling 808 that directs the infraredlight to the infrared absorptive material 202 described above. Thatinfrared absorptive material 202 in turn conveys the resultant heat to athermally-conductive element 201.

FIG. 9 presents an example that is similar to the example described inFIG. 8 but where the source of light 102 includes three of the infraredlasers 802 and their corresponding components. So configured, the sourceof light includes three separate output optical ports 803. Also in thisexample, the thermal energy from one of the laser diodes 802 is splitand distributed amongst four separate heat-dispersion components thatcomprise the heating section 806. And lastly, this example includes athermostat 901 that optically couples to a corresponding laser driver801. In this example the thermostat 901 controls the overall temperaturewithin the entirety of the object or space, while the temperature sensor506 primarily serves to provide thermal protection against overheatingof the heat-dispersion component(s).

Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety ofmodifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect tothe above described embodiments without departing from the scope of theinvention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinationsare to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: an object; at least afirst source of light secured to the object; at least a firstlight-bearing conduit operably coupled to the first source of light; atleast a first heat-dispersion component secured to the object andoperably coupled to at least the first light-bearing conduit andconfigured to respond to reception of light from at least the firstsource of light via at least the first light-bearing conduit bydispersing heat derived from the light.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the first source of light comprises an electrically-poweredsource of light.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising: aself-contained source of electricity secured to the object and operablycoupled to the first source of light to provide electricity to the firstsource of light.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the firstlight-bearing conduit comprises at least one optical fiber.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the light received by the firstheat-dispersion component comprises, at least in part, infrared light.6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first heat-dispersion componentcomprises: at least a first thermally-conductive element; a layer ofinfrared-absorptive material at least partially disposed on a surface ofthe thermally-conductive element, wherein the infrared-absorptivematerial generates heat when exposed to at least a part of lightemanating from the first light-bearing conduit; a connector to receiveand hold at least the first light-bearing conduit such that at least apart of the light emanating from the first light-bearing conduitilluminates at least a part of the infrared-absorptive material andcorresponding heat is available via the thermally-conductive element. 7.The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first heat-dispersion componentfurther comprises: at least one fan configured to disperse the heat fromthe first thermally-conductive element to thereby heat a spacecorresponding to the object.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprising: a light-to-electricity conversion component having: alight-receiving input operably coupled via a light-bearing conduit to asource of light that is secured to the object; and anelectricity-providing output.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprising: at least a second heat-dispersion component secured to theobject, wherein the second heat-dispersion component includes: alight-to-electricity conversion component having a light-receiving inputoperably coupled via a light-bearing conduit to a source of light thatis secured to the object and an electricity-providing output; and anelectricity-to-heat conversion component operably coupled to receivedelectricity from the light-to-electricity conversion component andconfigured to provide heat to thereby heat a space corresponding to theobject.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a controlcircuit configured to control dispersal of heat by the firstheat-dispersion component.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 furthercomprising: at least one temperature sensor operably coupled to thecontrol circuit; and wherein the control circuit is configured tocontrol the dispersal of heat by the first heat-dispersion component asa function, at least in part, of the at least one temperature sensor.12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the at least one temperaturesensor is configured to communicate sensed temperature information withthe control circuit via a modulated light signal.
 13. The apparatus ofclaim 12 further comprising: at least one light-bearing conduit operablycoupled between the temperature sensor and the control circuit andconfigured to bear the modulated light signal.
 14. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the object comprises an aerospace vehicle.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 14 wherein the first heat-dispersion component isconfigured to constitute a deicer for at least one portion of a wing ofthe aerospace vehicle.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the objectcomprises a non-vehicular human shelter.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the object comprises a man-wearable object.
 18. The apparatus ofclaim 17 wherein the man-wearable object comprises a plurality ofphysically discrete man-wearable objects.
 19. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the object comprises at least one of a terrestrial and anaquatic vehicle.